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eyes kind. He was a couple years younger than my own twenty-five, but the kindness in his gaze was older. “I’ve been sensitive to it. Looking for it. But you’re good at masking it. Only powerful supernaturals would notice it.”
    Like the investigators from the Order of the Magica. I swallowed hard, a chill prickling my skin.
    “And only some of the time,” he added. “Like I said, you’re good at hiding it. It’s not likely anyone will notice you, especially if they can’t see you.”
    My shoulders relaxed a bit. He was right. They wouldn’t be able to see me. And I’d thrown myself into practicing my magic—which made me a stronger Mage and better at hiding my signature overall—so I’d probably be okay.
    Connor turned back to the cauldron and lifted it, pouring it into two small vials. After he corked them, he handed the vials over.
    “These should do you. You’ll be able to see each other because you drank the same potion, but no one else will.”
    “Thanks. What do I owe you?”
    “Don’t be dumb. Nothing. I like Dr. Garriso too.” He made a shooing motion. “Now go get him back.”
    “Thanks.” I gave him a quick hug and hurried out of the kitchen. I shoved the vials into the pocket of my leather jacket as I walked over to Aidan and my deirfiúr .
    “Got it,” I said. “Want to head over?”
    “Sure.”
    “Need any help?” Del asked.
    “Maybe, but not now. This is just recon, and we’ve only got enough potion for the two of us.”
    “Just let me know. I don’t have another job for a couple of days. I’ll just be scouring the archives for magic for you to hunt.”
    “Great. Thanks.”
    “Be safe,” Nix said.  
    “Always.” I turned and followed Aidan to the door, Nix’s scoffing laughter following me out onto the street.
    “What’s her problem?” I grumbled.
    “She sort of has a point,” Aidan said as we crossed to Cecilia. “You do run at danger.”
    “It’s part of my charm.”
    He grabbed my hand and squeezed. “It is, actually.”
    I smiled despite the rain that had picked up again, but thoughts of Dr. Garriso drove the grin from my face.

CHAPTER THREE

    Aidan made the drive in record time. Now was not the moment to trust Cecilia to get the job done. We parked in the lot across from the museum, behind the old library that now served as a small local theatre.
    I dug the vials out of my pocket and handed one over. “Here. It’ll work for an hour. We’ll still be able to see each other.”
    Aidan held the small bottle up to the dim light from the street lamp and squinted at the blue contents. “Bet it tastes like hell.”
    “Yep.”
    “Let’s take it now. Won’t take us long to get in, and we shouldn’t risk being seen sneaking across the parking lot.”
    I held my vial up close to his. He clinked his against mine.
    “Cheers,” I said, then uncorked the bottle and poured it into my mouth.
    A bitter, muddy taste flowed over my tongue. Vile. Magic rarely came without a cost. I choked it down.
    Cold shivered along my limbs, followed quickly by a strange numbness. I flexed my fingers, staring at them. Would I be able to fight well like this? Numbness couldn’t be good for the reflexes.
    “Think it worked?” Aidan asked.
    I scowled. He hadn’t even grimaced. “I feel weird, so I guess so.”
    “Good enough. Let’s go.”
    We climbed out of the car. I zipped my leather jacket against the rain and we sprinted across the gleaming street, then cut across the wet grass. Aidan led the way up the expansive stairs toward a tall window at the front of the building. Normally, I entered through the back basement, straight into the office wing to see Dr. Garriso. Aidan wanted us to waltz into the biggest exhibit hall in the place.
    He stopped in front of the tall window and pulled a round metal charm out of his pocket.
    “What’s that?” I asked as he ran it around the edges of the window.
    “Spell Stripper.”
    I sucked in a breath. “Holy magic, those are